2010 Tobin James, Paso Robles, Ballistic Zinfandel ($18, Alcohol level 15.2%). It has been many, many, many years since we've had this wine. Earlier this year we were running very low on our red wine rotation. So we ordered a case of the mainline reds from TJ. We received 3 of these, and three each of their Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot. This was the first one we opened this summer for a variety of reasons.

It was requested by True Love for our dinner tonight. As you might expect it gave gobs of fresh fruit and jam on the nose and upfront. In the middle we found more fruit and restrained pepper and spice. The finish lingered.

We matched it with tenderloin steak in bacon rasher grilled over charcoal and mesquite chips; roasted potatoes in strips that had been tossed in EVOO, and sliced Brandywine tomatoes. Yum, yum!!!